Protection for four heritage buildings

Auckland City is taking steps to schedule four significant historic buildings as part of its ongoing efforts to protect the city’s built heritage.

The four buildings were brought to the council’s attention following an appeal for members of the public to nominate historic items worthy of protection.

The four buildings are:

The former Carlton Club Hotel (now The Penny Black), 489 Kyber Pass Road, Newmarket

The former Mt Eden Borough Council building and Fire Station building (now Nesfield House), 62 to 64 Valley Road, Mt Eden

Mary Atkin’s Cottage, 73 Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama

2 Castle Drive, Epsom

The chairperson of the Environment, Heritage and Urban Form Committee, Councillor Christine Caughey, says the council has a programme of work in place to identify and protect significant heritage buildings.

“These four properties have all made unique contributions to the city’s history and it’s important that we preserve them for future generations to enjoy so that they know and understand where Auckland has come from,” she says.

The council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee has now approved the notification of a plan change to schedule the four buildings.

Its chairperson, Councillor Glenda Fryer, says members of the public can make submissions on the proposal.

“We believe these buildings are worthy of protection and we’d encourage people to come forward with their views.

“The Mt Eden Borough Council building and Fire Station building, for example, is a fine example of early 19th century architecture, with its grand facade and Kauri interior.

“I’m pleased we’re taking steps to protect this significant landmark, which stands as a testament to the progress and development of Mt Eden as one of the city’s early suburbs.”

Councillor Caughey says the three other properties also have special features.

“The Mary Atkins Cottage, for example, serves as a memorial to a one of Auckland’s pioneering families and their devotion to the Melanesian Mission.

“It’s a 1902 rebuild of the 1840s cottage and reminds us of the living conditions for our European ancestors when they first arrived in Auckland,” Ms Caughey says.

Historical research found The Penny Black in Newmarket to be a striking local landmark and one of the suburb’s only 19th Century hotels to survive into the 21st Century, while the home at 2 Castle Drive is one of the few remaining two-storey concrete villas in Auckland.

The public can now make submissions on the plan change to schedule all four items. The closing date for submissions is 18 September 2006.

Hearings will be held later in the year to consider the plan change to schedule these items.

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